December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Joseph Bunney is recorded with working dates circa 1766-1825 in Birmingham, but is known to have marked his guns "London" (see "Gunmakers of London 1350-1850" by Blackmore). This pair of boxlock pistols with turnoff barrels comprised of three rounded stages, one with a wedding ring and girdle and second with band. Octagonal breeches, integral to boxlock, numbered to match barrels, decorated with light wrigglework on flats with accenting florals at fore edge. Sides of boxlock engraved with well cut floral-and-shell scroll with ribbons reading "BUNNEY LONDON", left side with sliding safeties that cover left touchhole, enabling a user to shoot only one shot if so desired. Reinforced cock with light wrigglework borders, pan cover with light engraving, including a heart at apex. Underside of barrels near frame with British proofs, single triggers protected by a trigger guard with a floral in a diamond. Bag grips with extensive and well laid silver wire in floral and shell motifs, sections of solid florals and dotted borders, with a solid silver thumbpiece. Buttcaps with a well executed grotesque with Birmingham silver hallmarks, maker mark obscured. CONDITION: Overall very good, with metal largely a silvery-grey with some scattered areas of oxidation, from a European style cleaning. Barrel 2 has some cracks extending from the false rifling visible from exterior. Engraving is crisp. Stocks are excellent, with some minor handling marks and impressions, some minor areas of silver wire lifting, some strands missing. Grotesque has some tarnishing from age that could be cleaned should the new owner wish. Mechanically fine, bores are very good with a minimum of oxidation. A nice pair of silver mounted muffs.
CORRECTION: This fine pair of pistols comes from the collection of Douglas Eberhart.
Barrel Length
(BOTH) 2 - 3/8"
Caliber/Bore
(BOTH) .44 Smoothbore
Manufacturer
(BOTH) Bunney
Model
(BOTH) Flintlock pistol